Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomselo’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Echinacea  plant named ‘Balsomselo’, characterized by its single-type, light creamy-yellow colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Echinacea×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balsomselo’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEchinacea plant botanically known as Echinacea×hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Balsomselo’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn,Ill. during September 2007. The objective of the breeding program wasthe development of Echinacea cultivars with a single inflorescence formhaving imbricate ray florets and a well-branched, compact growth habit.

The new Echinacea×hybrida cultivar is the result of cross-pollination.The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietaryEchinacea×hybrida breeding selection designated ‘E40-3’, U.S. Pat. No.7,982,110, characterized by its single-type, light creamy-yellow coloredinflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous,upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar isfrom a bulk pollen mix of fifteen proprietary Echinacea×hybrida breedingselections designated ‘E40-1’ through ‘E40-15’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110,characterized by their single-type, light creamy-yellow coloredinflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous,upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as asingle flowering plant within the progeny of the above statedcross-pollination during October 2008 in a controlled environment inElburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by in vitro propagation sinceOctober 2008 in West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the newcultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘Balsomselo’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Echinacea plant:

-   -   1. Single-type, light creamy-yellow colored inflorescences;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and maleparents primarily in growth habit. The new variety is more compact andbetter branched then the parent plants.

Of the many commercially available Echinacea cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is Echinacea Big Sky™ Harvest Moon,‘Matthew Saul’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,652. However, in comparison,plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Matthew Saul’ in atleast the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have an inflorescence color,        specifically ray floret color, different from plants of ‘Matthew        Saul’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have larger ray florets, as        measured by length and width, than plants of ‘Matthew Saul’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have a wider disc diameter than        plants of ‘Matthew Saul’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalinflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors inthe photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘Balsomselo’. One plant per 1 gallon container was grown for 18 weeks ina greenhouse in Elburn, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘Balsomselo’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of‘Balsomselo’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in July 2011 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants producedfrom in vitro plantlets and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse underconditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plantswere grown in Elburn, Ill. in 1-gallon pots for 18 weeks utilizing asoilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained atapproximately 45° F. to 65° F. (7.2° C. to 18.3° C.) during the day andapproximately 35° F. to 45° F. (1.7° C. to 7.2° C.) during the night. Nosupplemental lighting was provided. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Echinacea×hybrida cultivar Balsomselo.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Echinacea×hybrida breeding            selection designated ‘E40-3’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110.        -   Male parent.—Bulk pollen mix of fifteen proprietary            Echinacea×hybrida breeding selections designated ‘E40-1’            through ‘E40-15’, U.S. Pat. No. 7,982,110.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—In vitro propagation is preferred, divisions are            possible.        -   Time to initiate roots in vitro.—Approximately 30 days at            18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet in summer.—Approximately            30 days at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; grey to light brown in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate density, moderate branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 18 weeks from a rooted            tissue culture plantlet to finish in a 1 gallon container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Compact-upright, narrow            inverted triangle, herbaceous perennial.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Outdoor plant performance.—Use as bedding plants or in            mixed-container plantings; at least tolerant to temperatures            up to 35° C. and hardy to USDA zone 4.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 66.5 cm. Width: Approximately 38.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—No lateral branching, flowering stems grow            from base. Quantity of main stems per plant: Approximately            2.        -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:            Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately            41.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 6.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent            with short strigose hairs. Color of young and mature stems:            144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to stem, subtending with age.            Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate. Margin: Entire,            slightly undulate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately            15.5 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 5.2 cm. Texture            of upper surface: Slightly glossy, moderately pubescent with            short strigose hairs. Texture of lower surface: Moderately            pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper surface            of young foliage: Closest 137A with venation of 147C. Color            of lower surface of young foliage: 137B to 137C with            venation of 147C. Color of upper surface of mature foliage:            Darker than 137A with venation of 147C. Color of lower            surface of mature foliage: Closest to 137B with venation of            147C.        -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 17.5 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper surface:            Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glossy, sparsely covered            with very short strigose hairs. Color of upper and lower            surfaces: 147C.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balsomselo’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions blooming from spring through            autumn and with limited flowering under short winter days in            a greenhouse environment.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 3 weeks.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Solitary, composite. Persistent.            Shape: Conical. Aspect: Facing upward. Arrangement:            Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles. Fragrance:            Faintly sweet. Quantity per plant: Approximately 11. Height:            Approximately 5.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.0 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately            45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 17.5 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent with            short strigose hairs. Color: 144A.        -   Bud.—Quantity per plant: Approximately 1. Shape: Flattened            globular with immature ray florets nearly erect. Length:            Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.5 cm. Color:            Outer ray florets of 154D with a bud center of 143A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 23.            Arrangement: Slightly imbricate in a single whorl. Aspect:            Perpendicular to disc, subtending with age. Shape: Narrowly            elliptic to narrowly obovate. Appearance: Dull. Margin:            Entire. Apex: Emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Length:            Approximately 4.0 cm. Width: Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture            of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, ribbed longitudinally.            Color of upper surface when first open: 16C. Color of lower            surface when first open: 4D with tips of 145A. Color of            upper surface when fully open: 16D, fades to slightly            greener than 155A. Color of lower surface when fully open:            4D, fades to closest to 145D with tips of 145A.        -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: Approximately 4.5 cm. Quantity            per inflorescence: Approximately 400. Arrangement: Spirally            arranged in center of inflorescence. Shape: Tubular. Margin            of free portion: Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused            into a tube. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or            inner surface when first and fully open: 144B. Color of            lower or outer surface when first and fully open: 144A to            144B and base of 145D.        -   Receptacle.—Shape: Conical. Height: Approximately 2.2 cm.            Diameter: Approximately 1.9 cm. Color: 155D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 65.            Arrangement: In three whorls. Appearance: Dull, stiff.            Shape: Narrowly ovate to lanceolate, strongly curved towards            the peduncle. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Texture of upper or inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of            lower or outer surface: Glabrous with margins moderately to            densely pubescent with short strigose hairs. Color of upper            surface: 137A. Color of lower surface: 137B.        -   Receptacle spines.—Number of spines per disc:            Approximately 400. Shape: Acicular. Length: Approximately            1.2 cm. Width at widest point: Approximately 2.0 mm. Apex:            Acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Apex of            167B with mid-section of 144A and base of 145D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Stamen quantity: 5 per floret. Anther shape: Oblong,            basifixed. Anther length: Approximately 3.0 mm. Anther            color: Blackened 200A. Filament length: Approximately            2.0 mm. Filament color: 145D. Pollen amount: Moderate to            abundant. Pollen color: 12A. Gynoecium: Present on disc            florets only. Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length:            Approximately 1.1 cm. Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color:            145B. Style length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Style color: 145D.            Ovary color: 145D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant named ‘Balsomselo’,substantially as herein shown and described.